Charleston Parks Conservancy

Volunteers have been the backbone of the Conservancy since 2008. We have grown from 400 annual volunteers in 2020 to over 2,000 in 2024 and seek to provide a FUN, educational, and community-building experience. To that end, we are thrilled to welcome Collin Howell, our new full-time Volunteer Manager! Please join us in welcoming Collin, who comes to us from the Nashville Zoo with extensive experience in volunteer engagement. He's excited to join our team and can't wait to meet you all! Be sure to say hello when you see him in the parks. Spring is the perfect time to get out into the parks and volunteer! Visit our website (https://lnkd.in/eSeGAY4B) and click "Volunteer" to find upcoming opportunities or connect with Collin to set up a group event!

We’re a community service organization that believes public parks and green spaces are important for the future of Charleston. We envision a community that understands, experiences, and values these essential public resources. Our mission is to inspire the people of Charleston to connect with their parks and together create stunning public spaces and a strong community.

We believe parks are more than just green spaces—they are living, evolving landscapes that connect people, tell stories, and sustain communities. As we continue to invest in and steward Charleston’s public parks, we look to thought leaders who inspire us to think critically about the role of design, ecology, and history in shaping the places we steward. Recently, our team had the opportunity to hear from Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NWB), whose firm is leading two transformative projects in Charleston—master plans for Angel Oak and Middleton Place Historic Landmark. NWB’s work, which includes projects like Memorial Park in Houston, TX; Centennial Park in Nashville, TN; and Hudson Yards in New York City, NY, is recognized for its deep commitment to ecological restoration and cultural storytelling. Woltz’s talk at the Charleston Library Society—an institution as rich in history as the landscapes we care for—offered profound insights that align with our mission. He shared four core design principles for public landscapes, each resonating deeply with our approach to Charleston’s 26 parks, gardens, and trails: - Ensuring public access to nature – Parks must invite people in, offering spaces to see, touch, and smell nature. - Resilience in climate extremes – As stewards, we must plant for the future, designing landscapes that can withstand and adapt to environmental changes. - Honoring cultural histories – Every landscape holds stories; our role is to uncover and share them through thoughtful, research-driven design. - Preserving biodiversity – Public parks are ecosystems, and our work must protect and restore their delicate balance. The Charleston Parks Conservancy team left the conversation inspired, reflecting on how these ideas guide our work in Charleston’s parks: - A landscape evolves into its design rather than being controlled by it. Soil and seed have always known each other. - Listen deeply to the land. It guides the design, shaping material choices and approaches. As stewards, we create for the space and its community—not for ourselves. - Design must honor both ecological and cultural narratives. A landscape is shaped by its environment and its history—both should be reflected in its future. - Land is never just open space—it is full and alive. Every space is filled with plants, animals, habitats, and history. - When land is devastated, so are its ecosystems and stories. Thoughtful stewardship ensures that nature’s narratives endure. - Design for the future, not just the present. Public landscapes should be shaped with a generational time scale, prioritizing long-term sustainability over immediate gratification. - As stewards of public landscapes and spaces, we are translators and storytellers of memories and history. This learning will inform our work as we expand our impact and ensure Charleston’s parks remain places of beauty, connection, and resilience for all.

Our volunteers are at the core how the Conservancy is able to care for 26 parks, gardens and trails in Charleston. ?? Thank you to @4thcombatcamerasq, @charlestondayschool, and CGI Federal for coming out and putting in hard work at Colonial Lake in February! If you, your family, business, or organization would like to jump in and get involved with your parks, visit the Volunteer link in our bio to learn more.

It's crucial that children experience outdoor and educational time, as it significantly benefits their physical health, mental well-being, and social development. ?? The Charleston Parks Conservancy is actively engaging in fostering these experiences in our parks through events such as SEWE's Kids Activation area at Marion Square and the Teddy Bear Picnic at Hampton Park. At SEWE, the Conservancy provides interactive opportunities that connect children with nature with seed plantings and hands-on learning experiences, while the Teddy Bear Picnic offers a playful and educational outdoor experience, encouraging children to explore and appreciate their natural surroundings. ?? The Conservancy is committed to create and activate park spaces for meaningful outdoor engagement. Read more about the Conservancy's initiatives and partner with us in 2025! ?? https://lnkd.in/eXr-3dzY #charlestonparks #getoutside

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at Shucked & Sauced this past Sunday in Hampton Park! ?? With your support, we raised over $40,000, directly contributing to enhancement and care in 26 of Charleston’s parks, gardens, and trails. This funding also supports free programming, like the Teddy Bear Picnic on March 2, 2025! It was an unforgettable celebration of Lowcountry flavors, featuring fresh oysters, incredible BBQ, local drinks, and live music! We’re also thrilled to share that we diverted 93% of waste (almost 700 pounds!) from landfills with the help of @keepcharlestonbeautiful. ?? Stage Sponsor ?? @happyhomespm* Entrance Sponsor @blackbird_xyz Oysters & Seafood ?? ?? @167_raw* @delaneyoysterhouse* @leonsoystershop* @marbledandfinchs @steamboatcreekoysters* @sorelle_chs @tempestcharleston* @darling_oyster_bar @theobstinatedaughter* @thesmokingpot* @birdislandoysterco Barbecue ?? @lewisbarbecuechs @martinsbbq* @rodneyscottsbbq* Beverage ?? @graftchs* @holycitybrewing* @eattheordinary* @poggiocosta @titosvodka Shucked Sponsors @maynardnexsen* First National Bank QTrak @southstatebank* @pure_insurance POSE Charleston Sauced Sponsors The Deeann Flores Schertz Foundation @designworkslc @liollioarchitecture* @charlestonmag @smitheyironware* *Returning supporters

The other week, members of our horticulture team had the privilege?of attending the South Carolina Public Garden Alliance Symposium on part of the Charleston Parks Conservancy! ?? Kate White, Director of Horticulture, and Becca Hudson, Garden Programs Manager, were honored to represent the Conservancy and connect with dedicated professionals in the horticulture field across the Southeast. The symposium provided a unique opportunity to discuss the challenges and successes of working in public garden spaces, such as climate related issues and collaborating on innovative horticultural solutions, with over 20 organizations in attendance. Highlights included Laura Del Vecchio from Moore Farms, who shared strategies for incorporating edible plant species to sustain pollinators during times of dearth, Lucy Contreras from Kalmia Gardens presented cold-hardy seasonal flowers, and Kate’s own presentation on Camellias, which delved into their rich history and ecological importance. ?? Creating connections and attending key symposiums provides the opportunity to share ideas, solutions, and struggles?that help one another in the horticultural?realm. Developing these relationships and engaging with like minded organizations will be?increasingly?important as each region continues to?face climate?shifts and events in the?years to come. The?Conservancy is grateful to have been part of this incredible event and look forward to strengthening our connections within the SCPGA network and further in the years to come. #publicgardens #conservancyparks #growinggood

We are excited to continue to grow good in 2025! ?? Read more about how the Conservancy has connected people to their parks in 2024 and take a look into upcoming initiatives and objectives this upcoming year.

We’re a community service organization that believes public parks and green spaces are important for the future of Charleston. We envision a community that understands, experiences, and values these essential public resources. Our mission is to inspire the people of Charleston to connect with their parks and together create stunning public spaces and a strong community.

Your support has helped your parks bloom through the end of 2024. Read our 4Q Impact Report for insight into how your investment has directly impacted back to your community. https://lnkd.in/erJpHpv9